New website

Our new website is now up and running - lots of new pics will be added particularly from our recent trip to Sri Lanka.
www.mandyandmick.zenfolio.com

India

The blog will not now be updated until March, as I am spending the next month on a volunteer trip to India :) I have set up another blog to diary the trip. If you are interested please follow this link http://www.mandyandrox.blogspot.com/

Patch Birds

It has been a difficult time for birds during the recent big freeze, they have seemed so focused on finding food and keeping warm that they have been more approachable than normal. Shown here are Curlew, Wigeon, Lapwing, Dunlin and Bearded Tit

Cettis Warbler

I was so pleased today as I managed to get a photographic record of a Cettis Warbler. There have been a few of them on my local reserve for some time now but are only usually heard or if you are lucky- a fleeting glimspe can be had of them. However today, this one made an appearance out in the open and posed nicely! The shots are not brilliant given the dire weather today, but it was worth a 7 hour visit in heavy snow to finally be rewarded with this sighting.

Berry Blitz

On a visit to the coast at the weekend we were delighted to witness the influx of Redwing, Fieldfare, Blackbird and Thrushes. They descended on any available berry producing bush and feasted on them. Literally hundreds of them - a very enjoyable experience :)

Tame Robin

This robin is now quite a celebrity on my local reserve, it actively seeks out people and will stay around you the whole time you are in that area. It is partial to suet and will feed from your hand or sit inches from your face in a nearby bush waiting for you to provide food. A little treasure!!:)

Wintry Scenes

The cold snap has continued, most of the water bodies at my local patch are mostly frozen over.

Recent Patch Birds

Yesterday I was treated to the sight of 15 Whooper Swans over the patch, and I also caught up with the drake Smew at last! Also this little Robin is proving delightful should you enter its territory, it will feed from your hand and stay around your feet - wonderful !! :)

Bearded Reedlings

These birds are proving to be a bit addictive to photograph! They are at times so close and confiding and have provided so much pleasure to the observer!

Red Necked Phalarope

What a delightful little bird. It has been around for nigh on 2 weeks and had attracted a lot of attention! It is very confiding and seems total undisturbed by hoards of birders/photographers. It has at times been almost close enough to reach out and touch it. It certainly has won some hearts :)

Shore Larks

I was thrilled to at last see these birds, there were 4 in total there on Sunday. I didnt think I would get to see them before they disappeared as Mick working everyday at mo so I was delighted when my friend Max offered to take me there. We had wonderful weather and the birds didnt disappoint. A brilliant day! They were always quite distant but will careful approach, without risking flushing the birds and getting covered in wet sand as a result, I managed to get reasonable record photos - this bird was another "lifer" for me :)

Snow Buntings

Delightful little birds, in a flock with Twite.

Black Necked Grebe

Here are a few record shots, heavily cropped! It was nice to see this bird, a lifer for me, have always dipped out before when they have been reported locally. The warden informed me it was the first one of the winter (North Cave Wetlands). It was always distant but I was delighted to see it!

Little Grebe

I love Little Grebe, they are so cute! I enjoyed watching one of them from the hide, the water was clear and shallow and it was great to watch one of them under the water to-ing and fro-ing to catch fish. What a delight :)

Snipe

Largest flock of these I have ever seen - a total of 18

Starling Roost

Our local starlings have been gathering to roost , the flock are getting larger and larger. I managed these photos one evening, was a shame I didnt have a nice sunset as a backdrop but then you cant have everything - It was breathtaking to watch and they came so close that I could feel and hear them - awesome! Quite a challenge to capture in low light conditions - will no doubt get another opportunity to photograph them

Bempton

A visit to Bempton cliffs on Saturday proved to be a washout! We hoped to view the Red Backed Shrike that has been there for a few days but with terrible visibility with fog and rain we dipped out. A few Gannet were observed over the sea and hundreds of Blackbird coming in were a delight to see along with a number of Redwing. A Sparrowhawk was observed too near to the visitor centre .Mick had a close encounter with a weasel. The day ended on a very pleasant note as we called in at Worlaby Carrs and enjoyed an hour of sunshine in the company of Barn Owls and our first Short Eared Owl of the autumn.